UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 May 2024

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically.

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically.

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 3:

• Theaterisation of India Armed Forces

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

• Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

• Fall in tea production

• GPT-4o

• Ancient Baobab Trees

• Semal trees

• Exercises in News

Mapping

• Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

Theaterisation of India Armed Forces

#### GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Internal Security in India

Source: LM

Context: The article highlights the necessity for India’s armed forces to adopt specific theatre commands for efficient defense planning.

What are Theatre Commands?

A theatre command in the military refers to a specific geographical area where military operations are planned, coordinated, and executed under a single command. It is a way of organizing and managing military forces within a particular region or theatre of operations.

The idea behind the Theatre Command System is to enhance coordination and synergy among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Currently, almost all major countries like China, Russia, the US, the UK and France are working on a theatre command concept.

Case of China:

• China reorganised its 2.3-million People’s Liberation Army into five theatre commands in 2016 to enhance offensive capabilities and establish improved command-and-control structures.

• Its Western Theater Command looks after the entire border with India.

Evolution of the concept in India:

• Kargil Review Committee & Group of Ministers: After the 1999 Kargil battle, highlighted the necessity for a unified war-fighting approach.

• Naresh Chandra Committee: Advocated structural changes in higher defence management.

• Shekatkar Committee: Led by Lt Gen. (retd) D.B. Shekatkar, recommended the creation of the CDS post and theatre commands, emphasizing unified planning.

• CDS Appointment & Department of Military Affairs (DMA): Steps towards achieving jointness among the armed forces, following recommendations from the Shekatkar Committee.

Why does India need theatre commands?

• India currently has 19 military commands. 17 of them are service-oriented – 7 each for the Army and the Air Force and the Navy has 3. A Tri-Service Command– Andaman and Nicobar Command, and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC looks after the country’s nuclear stockpile).

• 17 of them are service-oriented – 7 each for the Army and the Air Force and the Navy has 3.

• A Tri-Service Command– Andaman and Nicobar Command, and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC looks after the country’s nuclear stockpile).

• The aim is to bring all the individual commands into four or five unified or theatre commandsto streamline military operations and enhance coordination and efficiency in a rapidly evolving security landscape.

• This will aid in better planning, military response and a unified approachto fighting future wars while also lowering costs.

• Case study – Acquisition of Apache attack helicopters from the US: While the Indian Air Force got 22 Apaches, the Army has also placed orders for six of these choppers. The end result is a loss of at least Rs 2,500 croreand haphazard operational planning.

Benefits of theaterization

• Increased efficiency: Rationalization of warfighting resources and execution efficiency for integrated action against threats.

• Cost-effective in the long run: Although initial costs may rise, theaterization aids in better planning and military response, ultimately reducing long-term costs.

• Rationalization of command structure: Theaterization aims to streamline the uneven command structure across the Indian military, bringing about a more balanced distribution of commands.

• Operational Efficiency: Traditional separation of forces for land, air, and sea combat leads to inefficiencies.

• Specific Theatres: Strategic positioning of forces in specific regions such as Jaipur for western threats, Lucknow for northern threats, and Coimbatore for maritime threats.

• Resource Optimization: Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) ensure better resource utilization and readiness improvement.

• Evolving Warfare: Modern warfare requires quick and coordinated responses, which separate commands cannot efficiently provide.

Steps taken towards theaterisation in India:

• The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill 2023includes a provision regarding a joint services command.

• CDS Appointment: India appointed its first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) nearly five years ago to oversee defence reforms.

• ITC Proposal: A concrete plan for Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) signals progress in restructuring.

• Leadership Roles: The proposed structure includes a vice-CDS for strategic planning and procurement and a deputy CDS for operations and intelligence.

• Operational Coordination: While service chiefs lead their forces, combat operations will be managed by top officers with a strategic view.

• The cross-staffing initiativesare aimed at areas of commonality, such as equipment like UAVs and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

• Steps are being taken to introduce “common annual confidential reports” for all two and three-star generals across the armed forces to synergise the appraisal system for tri-service appointments.

Planned Theatre Commands

According to the current proposal, there will be five theatre commands, namely

• Northern Land Theatre(Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Central sector; China and Pakistan centric)

• Western Land Theatre(Pakistan-centric)

• Eastern Land Theatre (China-centric)

• Maritime Theatre Command(merging of the eastern and western naval commands, besides getting elements from the Army and the Air Force)

• Air Defence Command

• Integrated Logistics Command

Challenges:

• IAF’s Concerns: IAF supports theaterization but prefers a single theatre to maintain control over its assets.

• Service Culture Differences: The distinct cultures and operational methods of the Army, Navy, and Air Force pose challenges to integration.

• Massive Funding Required: Establishing the infrastructure for theatre commands necessitates significant financial resources.

• No Need for Theaterization: Some experts argue against theatre commands, citing past cooperation among services during warfare and the lack of precedent in other countries.

Way forward:

• Implement ITCs: Prioritize the establishment of Integrated Theatre Commands for operational efficiency.

• Strategic Leadership: Appoint vice-CDS and deputy CDS roles for strategic planning and operations.

• Equipment Upgrades: Ensure continuous modernization of military equipment.

• Consensus on AI Use: Develop a consensus on AI-led strikes to minimize collateral damage.

• Supportive Ecosystem: Focus on indigenous technology and self-reliance in defense.

• Managing Internal & External Security: Assess how internal and external security will be managed under theater commands.

• Parliament’s Role: Establish a dedicated parliamentary committee staffed with military advisers to monitor the transition.

• Service-Neutral Commands: Ensure no theatre “belongs” to any service; appoint commanders based on talent and experience.

• Modular Structure: Modularize armed forces into smaller, networked brigades for enhanced deployability and sustainability.

Conclusion:

India has the world’s 4th largest military, but its services operate independently. While theatre commands are needed, their launch should not be rushed. For effective theatre commands, a national security strategy and appropriate tri-service structures are essential. They should be prepared for future warfare, including space and cyber domains, without complicating decision-making processes.

Insta Links:

• The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill 2023

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Economic Times

Context: Recent archaeological findings have revealed an ancient, Atlantis-like supercontinent named Sahul, which facilitated human migration from Asia to Australia around 70,000 years ago.

• This landmass was exposed during the last ice age due to lower sea levels and connected present-day Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Tasmania.

• Researchers discovered Sahul through simulations based on geological and environmental data, which outlined potential migration routes and archaeological sites from 75,000 to 35,000 years ago.

Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) has deferred the accreditation of India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the second consecutive year, which could impact India’s voting rights at the Human Rights Council and some UNGA bodies.

• The deferral was based on issues highlighted in previous reports, such as lack of transparency in NHRC member appointments, involvement of police officers in human rights investigations, and insufficient gender and minority representation.

• These concerns were reiterated by civil society organizations and human rights activists.

This marks the first time India’s NHRC has faced two consecutive years of deferred “A-status” accreditation, a status it has held since 1999 with brief interruptions.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is an international organization that brings together national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from around the world.

GANHRI’s primary objectives include promoting and strengthening NHRIs to be more effective in their role of protecting and promoting human rights at the national level.

Chabahar port

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: The US has warned of potential sanctions following India’s signing of a 10-year contract with Iran to operate the Chabahar port.

About Chabahar Port:

• Chabahar port, strategically located in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, facilitates India’s trade access and has been a key element in the trilateral agreement between India, Iran, and Afghanistan since 2016.

• India has invested significantly in the port, supplying equipment worth $25 million and operating it through India Ports Global Limited.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Business Line

Context: Recently, India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation surged to a 13-month high of 1.26%, up from 0.5%, driven primarily by increases in food and fuel prices.

• Economists noted that this spike was influenced by seasonal factors and base effects.

• Food inflation, specifically, hit an eight-month high at 5.5%, with manufactured food products and primary food articles contributing significantly.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is an economic indicator that measures the average change in prices of goods at the wholesale level, i.e., before they reach the retail level.

It is used to track inflation and deflation trends in the economy by reflecting price changes in a basket of wholesale goods.

Fall in tea production

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: New Indian Express

Context: The Tea Association of India (TAI) has warned of a potential 50% drop in tea production in Assam and West Bengal in the coming months due to insufficient and poorly distributed rainfall.

• Data from the Tea Board of India shows significant declines in production, with Assam down 40% and West Bengal down 23% as of March 2024.

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: OpenAI has introduced GPT-4o, its newest and most advanced AI model, designed to enhance ChatGPT by making it smarter, faster, and free for all users.

Features of GPT-4o:

• This model, named “Omni,” represents a significant upgrade from previous models by supporting multimodal interactions—processing and responding to text, audio, and images.

• Unlike its predecessors, which used separate models for different tasks, GPT-4o integrates all functionalities into a single model, improving efficiency and response speed.

• GPT-4o’s capabilities include real-time translations, emotion detection in audio, and understanding and interacting with visual inputs like screenshots and documents.

• It also offers multilingual support and better performance with non-English texts, aiming to be more accessible globally.

• The technology behind GPT-4o enables holistic understanding of inputs, considering factors like tone and background noise.

• Its response times are remarkably fast, between 232 to 320 milliseconds.

Safety measures include filtered training data and post-training model refinement to address risks like misinformation and bias.

Ancient Baobab Trees

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: BBC

Context: Scientists have unravelled the origins of ancient baobab trees, revealing they first appeared in Madagascar 21 million years ago before spreading to Australia and mainland Africa via ocean currents.

Baobabs, dubbed “the tree of life” for their unique shapes and longevity, face threats from climate change and deforestation.

Previous related News about Baobab Tree:

Semal trees

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Semal trees, crucial to Udaipur’s Holi festivities, face peril in south Rajasthan. Despite their ecological significance, thousands are cut annually for bonfires, violating forest laws.

Semal trees, also known as silk cotton trees or Bombax Ceiba, are large, fast-growing trees (large deciduous trees, known for their Crimson red flowers) native to India. Ayurvedic medicines can be prepared from every part of the tree (e.g., roots are used for treating ailments such as diabetes, etc). It is worshipped by many tribal communities in Rajasthan (e.g. Garasia tribe, Kathodi tribe) and Madhya Pradesh. Its seed produces edible oil, used in making soaps. Semal plays a crucial role in the forest ecosystem, providing habitat and food for various species, including rock bees, moths, sparrows, and bugs. Additionally, tribal communities rely on Semal for food, crafting, and cultural beliefs.

Exercises in News

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Exercises | Description

Exercise SHAKTI | India and France have commenced the 7th edition of the India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI in Umroi, Meghalaya.

About Exercise SHAKTI: It is a biennial training event alternating between India and France, with the last edition being held in France in November 2021. Objectives include achieving physical fitness, refining tactical operations, and exchanging best practices.

Exercise ‘Tarkash’ | The seventh edition of the Indo-U.S. joint counter-terrorism exercise, ‘Tarkash’, recently took place in Kolkata between India’s National Security Guard (NSG) and U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF).